During the early 1980s, the Toronto Maple Leafs were a team in distress. There need for defensemen was so urgent that they rushed many into the NHL before learning their position properly, possibly damaging their careers permanently. One such prospect was Bob McGill.

Drafted by Toronto in 1980, the 19-year old defenseman was playing in the NHL full-time in 1981-82. Trying too hard to prove his worth, McGill gave away the puck frequently and got meaningless penalties. As a rookie, Bob McGill sat out 263 penalty minutes. But a couple of trips to the Leafs AHL franchise in St. Catharines settled McGill down.

By 1984-85, he returned to Toronto full-time. His 250 penalty minutes again proved that he was no contender for the Lady Byng, but he played within his range and the maturation was noticeable. After six seasons with the Leafs organization, Bob McGill was dealt to Chicago with Steve Thomas and Rick Vaive, while Ed Olczyk and Al Secord joined the Leafs.

Between 1987-88 and 1990-91, McGill was a valued Hawk, but was left expendable in the 1991 Expansion Draft and was chosen by the San Jose Sharks. The next three seasons must have been a blur for him as he played with the Sharks and Red Wings in 1991-92, was drafted by Tampa Bay, but claimed on waivers by the Leafs the next season, then spent 1993-94 with the New York Islanders and Hartford Whalers.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1978-79

Abbotsford Flyers

BCJHL

46

3

20

23

242

1979-80

Victoria Cougars

WHL

70

3

18

21

230

15

0

5

5

64

1980-81

Victoria Cougars

WHL

66

5

36

41

295

11

1

5

6

67

1980-81

Victoria Cougars

M-Cup

3

0

1

1

5

1981-82

Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL

68

1

10

11

263

-9

1982-83

Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL

30

0

0

0

146

-24

1982-83

St. Catharines Saints

AHL

32

2

5

7

95

1983-84

Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL

11

0

2

2

51

+1

1983-84

St. Catharines Saints

AHL

55

1

15

16

217

6

0

0

0

26

1984-85

Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL

72

0

5

5

250

0

1985-86

Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL

61

1

4

5

141

-17

9

0

0

0

35

1986-87

Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL

56

1

4

5

103

-2

3

0

0

0

0

1987-88

Chicago Blackhawks

NHL

67

4

7

11

131

-19

3

0

0

0

2

1988-89

Chicago Blackhawks

NHL

68

0

4

4

155

+9

16

0

0

0

33

1989-90

Chicago Blackhawks

NHL

69

2

10

12

204

-7

5

0

0

0

2

1990-91

Chicago Blackhawks

NHL

77

4

5

9

151

+8

5

0

0

0

2

1991-92

San Jose Sharks

NHL

62

3

1

4

70

-34

1991-92

Detroit Red Wings

NHL

12

0

0

0

21

-3

8

0

0

0

14

1992-93

Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL

19

1

0

1

34

+5

1993-94

New York Islanders

NHL

3

0

0

0

5

0

1993-94

Hartford Whalers

NHL

30

0

3

3

41

-7

1993-94

Springfield Indians

AHL

5

0

0

0

24

1994-95

8

0

0

0

6

1995-96

Chicago Wolves

IHL

8

0

0

0

6

1996-1998

Hershey Bears

AHL

1998-2000

Adirondack IceHawks

UHL

NHL Totals

705

17

55

72

1766

49

0

0

0

88

Traded to Chicago by Toronto with Steve Thomas and Rick Vaive for Ed Olczyk and Al Secord, September 3, 1987. Claimed by San Jose from Chicago in Expansion Draft, May 30, 1991. Traded to Detroit by San Jose with Vancouver's 8th round pick (previously acquired, Detroit selected C.J. Denomme) in 1992 NHL Draft for Johan Garpenlov, March 9, 1992. Claimed by Tampa Bay from Detroit in Expansion Draft, June 18, 1992. Claimed on waivers by Toronto from Tampa Bay, September 9, 1992. Signed as a free agent by NY Islanders, September 7, 1993. Claimed on waivers by Hartford from NY Islanders, November 3, 1993.